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What We Do

The 2012 MCA Ice Climbing Festival

Friday, September 28th to Sunday, September 30th

General Info: The MCA Ice Festival is a two day instructional weekend. Instruction is catered to participants' abilities and curriculum includes instruction in modern ice climbing techniques, associated safety systems and familiarity with equipment.  Instructors are volunteers within the Mountaineering Club of Alaska.  All participants, instructors and event volunteers camp out together off the glacier, to maximize instruction time and encourage socializing in the evening.

ALL POTENTIAL OR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND THE MANDATORY PARTICIPANT MEETING ON WEDNEDAY, SEPT. 26th at the BP ENERGY CENTER (900 E. Benson Blvd., Anchorage, AK) from 7-9pm.

The Ice Festival welcomes all experience levels, novice included. Participants must be a current MCA member and 16 years of age or older (if a minor you will be required to have a guardian appointed for the event as well as complete all required paperwork).

Participants are organized into groups according to experience (based on a survey completed during the registration process) and assigned two instructors for the weekend. Instructor/Student ratios are usually, 1:4.  The group levels are generally categorized as follows:

• Novice (no experience)
• Beginner (has climbed ice once or twice)
• Advanced Beginner (has climbed ice 6+ times)
• Intermediate (has climbed ice 10+ times)
• Advanced (climbs ice regularly and is looking to improve skills)

Participant Packet: Please review the "Participant Packet" in the downloads section below for a more complete description of the event, including logistical information, schedules and equipment requirements.

Schedule:  The MCA Ice Climbing Festival will be held: Friday, September 28th thru Sunday, September 30th. Instruction is from 9am-5pm Saturday and 9am-4pm Sunday.  Many participants drive up Friday evening since the event is 102 driving miles from Anchorage (2 hrs. driving time).

Mandatory Pre-Event Meeting/Gear Inspection: All potential or registered participants are required to attend a mandatory meeting to be held the evening of Wednesday, September 26th from 7-9pm, at the BP Energy Center (900 E. Benson Blvd., Anchorage, AK). Participants are required to bring their harness, boots and crampons to this meeting for inspection as well as complete all required paperwork.

Equipment: The MCA provides ropes, anchors and ice tools. Participants are required to equip themselves with a working harness, helmet, climbing specific boots, crampons and ice axe/ice tool. Participants needing equipment should expect to rent from Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking (907-272-1811) or the outdoor program at Alaska Pacific University (907-564-8614). Both AMH and APU rent plastic climbing boots, crampons, helmets and ice axes.  No one rents harnesses in town so you will need to borrow or buy one for the event.  Current MCA members get a 10% discount on all climbing purchases at Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking with proof of current MCA membership.  Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking usually takes advanced reservations for the MCA Ice Fest event, a week prior to the event and weekend rental prices include the mandatory meeting gear inspection.  Alaska Pacific University, Outdoor Programs also rents climbing equipment although they do not take advanced reservations.  The MCA has limited equipment available for use (helmets and ice axe's), for no charge to current MCA members and event participants.  Please contact the Training Coordinator at mcaicefest@gmail.com if you require MCA equipment. 

Cost: You must be a current MCA member to participant, $75 (does not include membership). Join or renew now on the MCA website using this link: http://www.mtnclubak.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=members.form. Late registration (registration after midnight on 9/24/2012) is available at the Mandatory Participant meeting on Wednesday, September 26th and will cost $90 (does not include membership fees).  Ice Fest fees do not include transportation, food or equipment rentals.

Online and Mail-In Registration is open!!!!

To register for the 2012 MCA Ice Fest please fill out all of the forms and waivers in the registration packet below (In the downloads section of this page).

To pay via PayPal please use the following link:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HCFVJG49MBC7S

If you pay using PayPal please e-mail your complete registration packet to mcaicefest@gmail.com or fax it to: 907-868-6402, ATTN:Ice Fest prior to 9/24. 

To pay using a personal check or money order: Please mail your complete Registration Packet and monies (please make checks/money orders out to MCA for icefest fees and/or MCA membership) to: Attn:Ice Fest Coordinator 6694 Delong Landing Circle, Anchorage, Alaska 99502 postmarked prior to 9/24.

Late registration (registration after midnight on 9/24) is available at the Mandatory Meeting on Wednesday, September 26th at 7pm at the BP Energy Center (900 E. Benson Blvd., Anchorage, Alaska.)

If you have any questions, please contact Training Coordinator, Jayme Mack at 907-382-0212 or mcaicefest@gmail.com.

(374 KB)	Ice Festival Registration Packet
(59 KB)	2012 Ice Fest Participant Packet 2012 Ice Fest Participant Packet and Equipment List

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